Toy submarine



March so, 1943. F. E. THYOMAS 2,315,461

TOY SUBMARINE Filed Feb. 16,1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 30, 1943. F.E. THOMAS TOY SUBMARINE Filed Feb. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMar. 30, 1943' UNITED STATES FATE-NT OFFICE TOY SUBMARINE Frank, E.Thomas, Chicago, Ill. Application February 16, 1942, Serial No. 431,0706 Claims. (01. 4 -94) a This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in miniature or toy submarine craft, the primary object ofthe invention being to provide means for motivating the submarine in thefollowing manner; the invention is adapted to float on the surface ofthe water, and is further adapted to make several circuitous movementson the surface, and after a predetermined time it will be caused tosubmerge whilst subjected to the same circuitous operation moving in aspiral fashion until a certain depth or submerged distance is attained;thence continuing at the submerged position in circuitous movement for apredetermined time, whence it will be caused to incline and move in anupward spiral direction without disturbance of the said circuitousmovement, until it finally comes to rest on the surface of the liquid inwhich it completes its cycle afloat.

' Another object of my invention is to provide suitable motivating meansfor propelling the said craft in the said circuitous path of travel asaforementioned, which is of a simple and practical construction,efiicient in its operation, and which will lend itself to manufactureeconomically in quantity production.

Other objects and advantages resident in my invention will becomereadily apparent from a study of the accompanying drawings and theensuing description in which like numerals are utilized to designatelike parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the circuitous path which myinvention is susceptible of performing after being placed on the surfaceof the water, ready for initial operation.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional View on the line 2-2 ofFigure 3, partially showing the invention in elevation. v

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure2. v Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional vie on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Figure2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view on theline 6-6 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view on the line '|1 of Figure 2.

Fig. 8 is a. longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 88 of Figure3.

Referring, more particularly, to the drawings in Figures 2 and 3, thenumeral 9 designates generally my invention and it is comprised of asuperficial construction H] to simu late a dummy arrangement of theupper deck of a submarine when the same is afloat. The null is}generally, designated H and is comprised of two'half portions nestingtogether as shown in Figure 3, and sealed at thenestin point by agasketof rubber or other resilient material generally designated 60. Screwspreferably are used for holding the two halves together; the screws arenot indicated. Several screws may be used in order to permit assemblyand dismounting in order to repair the same whenever it may benecessary.

The hull H is provided with ribs l3 and H which in conjunction with thebearing portion 59 provides a suitable three point bearing for the shaft2|. The shaft 2| has a substantial portion thereof threaded as indicatedat 22 With a very fine thread on which operates the nut l8 havingslotted portions 20 slida'bly in alignment with the slides l5) locatedin compartment l4 so as to maintain the nut in a movable positionhorizontally. The nut is suitably threaded, having a tapered or conicalcam portion 62, and is adapted to move horizontally back and forth. Oneach side'of the boat there are one or more openings 5| in alignmentwith a pocket portion of a bellows type of construction generallydesignated 34. The said openings 5| being located preferably on thewater level or liquid level 52 when the hull H is in floating position,so that it permits water to seep in thru the opening 5| and fill thepocket 34.

The shaft 2| is preferably driven by a series of springs 29 and 30located in the compartment l2, and also a fly wheel 3| in order to storemomentum thus giving a balanced and uniform speed. The fly wheel notonly tends to preservev the momentum but as well functions as a governorassuring uniform'operation of the power driven member 2|. The springsare secured in place and are attached to the shaft at their centralpoints and being preferably of a flat spiral type, are attached to thehull H of the submarine by screws 32. The bottom portion of thesubmarine has preferably a guide fin l5 and the sides have two fins 33in order to stabilize the craft when floating and also when insubmersion.

The ribs and'l3 provide perfect stops and limit the travel of the nutl8, as well as act as a safety factor to prevent over-winding thesprings 28, 29 and 30; for, when the springs are Wound by a key whichhas a square socket to fit the square shank 23 of the shaft, the nut isretarded to the position indicated in Figure 2.

When the nut abuts the rib |l it is at such a point Where the springtension has not reached its limit, thus the nut abutment controls thefurther winding of the spring and thus acts as a factor of safety. Theshaft carries the usual form of propelling means 24 on the outside,secured to the shaft 2| by a pin, or screw, or any other suitable means,and the craft is further provided with a rudder support rib I5 to whichthe rudder is pivotally secured; the rudder 25 having an enlargedportion 25 adapted to be drilled with a series of drilled openings 42(see Figure 5).

The wing-nut 21 is secured to a bolt which is suitably threaded as at 33and fits into the threaded opening 39. The said bolt 35 is se cured to aflange member which in turn is attached to the U-shaped bolt having theextension 4l adapted to engage any one of portions 42, thus adapting therudder to be fixedly secured at various angles (see Figure 6) and topermit setting the boat so that it may continue in a certain circuitouspath of operation. The bolt 35 has secured thereto a washer member 3 6by virture of pin member 31 and it is the province of this constructionto permit engagement and disengagement of the extension 4|.

At Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration showing that thehull is provided with a support rib l6 having a recessed portion towhich the rudder 25 is rotatably secured by virtue of the flllister headscrew 43, in order to permit articulation of the rudder by virtue of itslugs 44.

In Figure 4, an enlarged view indicates the particular structure of thebellows shaped means 34, which are provided with a series of nestingportions 49 of reduced diameter tapering toward the hemi-sphericalflanged element having a spherical portion 41 and a flange 48 this beingmade preferably of metal or of a rigid material. The bellows shapedmember is preferably held in normal position as indicated in Figure 4 byvirtue of the conically tapered spiral spring 46. The bottom portion ofthe bellows 6| is preferably rubberized or reinforced with a resilientmaterial so that when the bellows members are compressed, the surface 6!will effect a sealing action with respect to the opening 5|, thusexpelling the water and maintaining the interior of the craft devoid ofwater.

The operation is as follows: The spring elements are charged by windingthe shaft 2| as heretofore described. This causes the nut iii to bebrought to the position shown in Figure 2. In this position the springs28, 29 and 30 are fully charged and the vessel is adapted to floatinasmuch as the pockets of the bellows element 34 are filled with air.The rudder 25 is set at a suitable position so as to allow the vessel tomake a circuitous path depending on the size the vessel in which it iscaused to operate. The operation then commences. The water begins toenter the openings 51 of the valve bushings while the vessel is movingin a circuitous path on the surface, this continues until the pockets 34are filled with water, whence the front portion of the craft because ofliquid filling pockets 34 is caused to dip downward operatingcontinuously while the craft begins to submerge. When it reaches acertain depth of submersion, it continues its circuitous path at thatpoint, meantime the nut IB is advancing on the threaded portion 22 untilits conical portion contacts the hemispherical portions 41 of thebellows 34, when they are caused to compress the said bellows thusexuding the liquid therefrom, hence causing the craft to begin to spiraltoward the surface, and continue its circuitous path on the surfaceuntil the energy of the springs 28, 29 and 30 is fully consumed, whencethe cycle of operation may be once again repeated. The pockets 34 areplaced nearer the prow of the craft to facilitate submersion andultimate rising of the craft to the surface. 7

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective an approximate cycle of operation ifthe craft with springs wound full were to be placed in a glass ortransparent container 53 filled with a transparent liquid, the craftwould first complete one or more circuitous laps 55 on the surface 54whence when pockets 34 are completely filled with water it would followone or more spiral turns 55 until a balanced point of submersion 5'! isreached, thence move several laps at the said level 51 and when themechanism causing the pockets to be compressed will cause the craft torise one or more spiral turns 58 and ultimately complete one or morecircuitous laps in the plane of the surface of the liquid 54.

Altho, I have described, rather succinctly, the nature and operation ofmy invention, and because it is susceptible of many modifications, a1-terations, and improvements therein, I reserve the right to all suchalterations, modifications and improvements which come within the scopeand spirit of my invention, as well as within the embodiments of theaccompanying drawings, and the purview of the foregoing description; myinvention to be limited only by the subjoined claims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a device of the character described, collapsible submerging meansadapted to submerge the said device, comprising, bellows located onopposed sides within the said device, and a screw fed cylindrical nuthaving conically-shaped portions adapted to collapse the saidcollapsible submerging means.

2. In a device of the character-described, collapsible submerging meansadapted to submerge the said device, and motivating means adapted topropel the said device and to collapse the said collapsible submergingmeans, the said collapsible submerging means comprising, bellows locatedon opposed sides within the said device, and a screw fed cylindrical nuthaving conicallyshaped portions adapted to collapse the said collapsiblesubmerging means.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, collapsiblesubmerging means, mo-

tivating means adapted to propel the said device.

and to collapse the said collapsible submerging means, and rudder meansarticulately and adjustably secured to the said device adapted toconfine the same to varying orbits or circuitous paths, the saidcollapsible submerging means comprising, bellows located on opposedsides within the said device, and a screw fed cylindrical nut havingconically-shaped portions adapted to collapse the said collapsiblesubmerging means.

4. A device of the character described, comprising, hull means,motivating means mounted rotatably in said hull means, collapsiblesubmerging means mounted within the said hull means, and threaded meansmounted on the said motivating means and adapted to collapse the saidcollapsible submerging means.

5. A device of the character described, comprising, hull means,motivating means mounted rotatably in said hull means, collapsiblesubmerging means mounted within the said hull means, threaded meansmounted on the said motivating means and adapted to collapse the saidcollapsible submerging means, and rudder means articulately andadjustably secured to the said hull means.

6. A device of the character described, compris- FRANK E. THOMAS.

